Hiring and Riding in Germany

[Griffo]

I'm off to Germany in 3 weeks and won't be back till mid January. I'd like to know if anyone has ever hired motorbikes in Germany to do some riding? Ideally part of that riding will be buying my 20 Euro ticket like paying for motorway tolls with cash and have a hoon along the Nurburgring? Anyone done it and knows the ins and outs? Such as taking my own boots and helmet as well as many other things that might not be able to be hired in Germany?

[bobtrx]

Griffo I've sent a email to a mate in that neck of the woods for info . I will tell you what he comes up with . It is winter over there so that means snow and all that stuff . I would think you would need wool , a international license , wool , insurance and maybe more wool

[Ratmick]

Goretex and a double thermal layer. Waterproof boots and heated grips.

Mick

[aardvark]

Have ridden the Nurburgring once or twice.

If you don't do anything else, make sure you ride it. Unfortunately you'll probably have to share with cars and other lunatics, so be careful!

[devotus]

gday mate, the german bike hire stores are fairly well equipped so you wont have to bring much, that time of the year take thermals as the weather goes pear shaped pretty quickly and is fairly cold anyway.

i have lived in north germany and am moving back in 3 weeks to live for 3 years.

have a look here, this bloke just got back from that area

http://www.maximumbikes.com/forums/show ... hp?t=25164

[Naked Twin]

Good luck trying to hire a bike in winter. Having been to Germany a couple of times (heading back in April for the Bauma) I couldn't hire a push bike when I was there in winter to ride around Munich.

Queston - do you want to ride a bike through snow and an ice? You won't see too many locals riding bikes in winter

The worst part is even if you can get to hire a bike there is no way you can ride in in places like the mountains which are awesome. The last time I was there I said next time I am heading to the German Alps to ride the moutains, you can't believe how good the roads are, even with snow on the side of the road in April.

Nick

[Johnnie5]

i was in munciha few years ago in early november and it was minus 5 and snowing

i did the nurburgring in october and it pissed down

usually insurance doesnt cover you on the ring and dont tell them you are going to the ring

info from when i went along with a couple of rental places

http://groups.google.com.au/group/aus.m ... urburgring

[Warezwana]

wow...sounds crazy heading out on a bike this time of the year in Europe... I'm not sure if your super skilled and keen, or just a plain crazy mofo but damn be sure to let us all know how it turns out...

A request from me if I can put one forward.... Can you buy yourself a GoPro HD Motorsport video real quick (it wont set you back too much and they will have it from Cali to your door in Aus in 4days, well they did mine) and video this crazy run of yours or other adventures...

[Griffo]

Thankyou everyone for your ideas and thoughts. Please don't stop sending posts as i'll be taking it all in that's for sure. I have been in Germany before in winter and know just what everyone means about thermals etc. One guy at work told me to buy a wetsuit and wear it under everything and do what the surfers do when it's cold and they don't want to stop riding waves. It's apparently warm for a while urinating in your wetsuit but i'm not falling into the ocean to "wash" it away so i'll stick to the thermals and many layers.

Here's a trip i'm trying to fit in but wouldn't consider it on a motorbike in winter EVER! It's the road that leads all the way up a mountain with amillion switchbacks all the way to the top to drive in to Spain and then a few hundred meters later you leave Spain and head down another million switchbacks into Andorra the Duty Free capital of the world! i did that in a tiny manual Renault with the steering on the wrong side of the road and had a blast driving in and out but scared (shite myself many times) when normal everyday trucks were going up and down those same switchbacks as fast if not faster than me! Enuf of that. Hints clues and anything else motorcycle orientated about Germany in the middle of winter tell me!